In contrast to China, India, Iran, and Egypt, it claimed that Malaysia’s shift away from more expensive and polluting petrol and diesel was a failure.
As Malaysia Prepares to Phase Out, The Presidency Allays Concerns About CNG Safety.
In an attempt to calm Nigerians’ concerns after learning that the Malaysian government intends to phase out natural gas-powered vehicles by July 2025, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, posted on his X handle on Thursday.”The Malaysian issue speaks more to the safety of LPG, NOT safety of CNG,” Onanuga explained in his post.
The Presidency has maintained that compressed natural gas, or CNG, is a more cost-effective and safe substitute for petrol.
The presidential spokesperson claims that, in contrast to China, India, Iran, and Egypt, Malaysia failed to make the switch from more expensive and polluting petrol and diesel.
During the 15 years of its unsuccessful transition, the Asian nation did not construct tank manufacturing capacity, he said, adding that Nigeria is already doing so in year one.The statement says, “A few details regarding Malaysia’s intention to gradually phase out cars that run on compressed natural gas: The Malaysian problem focusses more on LPG safety than CNG safety.
According to the original report, “some car owners have also modified their vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which are very dangerous,” stated Anthony Loke, the federal minister of transportation.The safety of CNG cylinders that are 15 years old was also covered in the report. Both CNG and LPG are covered by NGV. Nigeria has only embraced CNG during its transition, not both, due to legitimate safety and financial concerns with LPG.
“Malaysia essentially had a failed transition away from more expensive and polluting diesel and petrol.”Compared to China, India, Iran, and Egypt, the conversion rate of 45,000 vehicles in 15 years (less than 0.2%) is not commendable.”They need to replace tanks because the 15-year CNG tank cycle is coming to an end, and it was easier and less expensive to abandon their program and keep using petrol than to do so if they had not established tank manufacturing capacity, which Nigeria is already doing in year one.”
Nigerians have been encouraged by the Federal Government to switch from petrol to compressed natural gas (CNG) for their vehicles, but they have had to cope with concerns raised by reports of CNG-powered vehicles exploding, among other unfavourable reports.President Bola Tinubu emphasised the pressing need for Nigeria to use its abundant natural gas resources in the transportation sector during an event in October.
He declared that Nigeria’s economy depends on CNG transportation, indicating a dramatic change in the nation’s views on energy consumption and public transit.”The next step is to use natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation sector,” he had said.